Citizens' Climate Lobby UK

Tag: net zero

  • How many more institutions and politicians, let alone protesters, have to say we need to keep fossil fuels in the ground?

    How many more institutions and politicians, let alone protesters, have to say we need to keep fossil fuels in the ground?

    On October 25th the Lancet published its annual Countdown on Health and Climate Change report in which it stated that world governments are “putting the health of all people alive today and future generations at risk” by locking in dependence on fossil fuels.

    On the same day a Unicef report warned that funding has to be increased to protect children and vulnerable communities from worsening heatwaves; a day later the United Nations reported that current NDCs will lead to 2.5C warming and that only 24 out of 193 nations had updated their plans as asked at COP26. The UN Secretary General, in an interview with the BBC stated that countries should not invest in more fossil fuels…. 

    This is the defining issue of our time, nobody has the right to sacrifice international action on climate change for any reason.……..We need to tell the truth. The truth is that the impact of climate change on a number of countries in the world, especially hotspots, is already devastating”.The most stupid thing is to bet on what has led us to this disaster.

    Also on the 25th Alok Sharma asked our government to ‘explain and demonstrate’ how new oil and gas development can align with the Net Zero target. The short answer is it can’t and it needn’t if investment in fossil fuels were to go to renewables and insulation projects instead. Meanwhile it was reported that BEIS data shows “that with existing and near-fully planned policies, the UK is projected to emit nearly double the amount of pollution as it should do under its 2030s goals”.

    There are signs that the government’s environmental policy may be taking steps in the right direction with the appointment of Therese Coffey as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Rishi Sunak declaring that the moratorium on fracking will be retained.

    Climate Income of course would send the clear message that it pays to decarbonise whilst protecting households from rising fossil fuel costs during the transition.

    With change in the air now may be as good a time as any to write to your MP and, if you haven’t already done so, submit a response to the Net Zero Consultation. Thanks to all the members who have done so already, it does make a difference!

  • Campaign: government consultation

    Campaign: government consultation

    Respond to the Government consultation on the best way to tax fossil fuels

    The Government is currently consulting on carbon pricing, in other words, the best way to price the burning of fossil fuels out of our economy.

    The more emails they receive by 11th July, the more likely they are to take notice

    What to do:

    Email [email protected], and copy in your MP

    Include in your email:-

    • Who you are – a concerned citizen, a business owner, a business representative, an organisation or group?
    • That carbon fee and dividend, as a carbon pricing policy, could cut greenhouse gas emissions by 33 percent in nine years.
    • It would protect poor and middle income households and boost the economy.
    • This would make a huge contribution to Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions, much more effective than sticking with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme.
    • Finish with your name, who you represent if applicable (eg business, organisation, charity) and your home address and, if applicable, your work address

    The consultation closes on 11 July 2019.

    We want a much harder-hitting fee on fossil fuels than we already have (petrol duty/road tax/EU ETS) and we can’t do this without a dividend to soften the blow on low and middle income families in particular.

    The more emails they receive at [email protected] – from individuals, activists, charities, business owners, etc, YOU! – the more chance we will have for a carbon fee that really cuts down emissions.

  • Net Zero – what next?

    Net Zero – what next?

    Charles Appleby, of Saving Our Planet, give his thoughts on the next step for Net Zero

    The UK Government commitment to Net Zero Greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is very welcome.

    This higher commitment by the UK Government is an important first step by a major economy towards tackling the global Climate Emergency. This the right thing to do morally, and the only decision that stands a chance of protecting the future of our children and future generations.

    Much further work is required internationally: by national governments, local governments, businesses and individuals across the world in order to limit global warming to the 1.5C, as recommended by the IPCC. 

    But here is the work still required by the UK Government:

    • Emissions could be cut by 40 percent in just over a decade by the introduction of Carbon Fee and Dividend. Please could all parties give this detailed consideration for early implementation both in the UK and all major economies.
    • To achieve Net Zero earlier, ideally, than 2050
    • To monitor progress against this commitment, at least annually, to ensure the UK keeps on track to meet the 2050 target, and by meeting milestones, particularly for 2030
    • To ensure this commitment is not diluted at the 5 year review point
    • The UK Government needs now to work to get others countries to make a similar – or stronger – higher commitment, particularly the EU and other of the 19 countries in the Carbon Neutrality Coalition
    • The UK Govt must also work with UNFCCC to encourage other major countries also to make a higher commitment
    • As reductions in CO2 emissions begin to be achieved, it is critically important that these translate into real reductions in the use of fossil fuels – so it is critical for governments to find effective ways to restrict fossil fuels from being taken out of the ground.
    • Measures need to be put in place to ensure UK industries do not face unfair competition from overseas companies operating under less strict CO2 emissions regulations
    • It is important that the UK achieves Net Zero without using International Carbon Credits
    • Instead, tree-planting and other nature-based solutions to climate change should not be used to remove ADDITIONAL amounts of CO2 emissions.
    • As part of early quick wins for this policy of Net Zero emissions, the UK Government needs urgently now to stop fracking and to stop coal mining in the UK
    • The UK should also look to remove subsidies on fossil fuels – and to use this money towards the cost of transition to a low-carbon economy